Sports management students expand network in Twin Cities

During the 2024 J-Term, students from the Carthage master’s degree program in sports management traveled with faculty to the Twin Cities, where they engaged in experiential learning with several professional sports organizations.

During the four-day trip, students met with a variety of executives from the Minnesota United FC (Major League Soccer), the Minnesota Twins (Major League Baseball), the St. Paul Saints (Class AAA minor league affiliate of the Twins), and the Minnesota Wild (National Hockey League).

Students at the City of Baseball Museum at CHS Field. Upon arriving in the Twin Cities, students met with members of Minnesota United FC led by Chelsea Radford, senior director of people operations. Students learned about the business of MLS and toured the club’s new stadium, Allianz Field.

On the second day, students met with Twins executives in the morning at Target Field, led by president and CEO Dave St. Peter. In the afternoon, they traveled across town to meet with the Saints’ front office. Students also toured the City of Baseball Museum at CHS Field, full of interesting displays and artifacts from the sport.

To cap off the trip, students spent two days at the Wild’s headquarters, where they met with every department in the organization and shadowed the staff in action during two regular season games. Three senior leaders from the Wild serve on Carthage’s active Sports Management Advisory Council, with team owner Craig Leipold chairing the council.

Minnesota Wild team owner, Craig Leipold, talking to Carthage students. “It was an incredible experience in which students had the opportunity to network with and learn from a variety of executives in professional sports about the operations of their leagues and organizations,” said Professor Carter Rockhill, director of the graduate business program.

He thanked the organizations for providing an “amazing educational and professional development opportunity, with special thanks to the phenomenal partners at the Minnesota Wild who made this entire trip possible.”